Chapter 8 fragile
<You killed a ferocious wolf>
<You gained 1 experience point>
<You killed a ferocious wolf>
....
"The wolves are actually quite weak... So weak that they didn't provide me with enough experience," Liu Feng murmured, his eyes scanning the corpses of the wolves he had just slain. "Four ferocious wolves, yet they didn't even reach the first level of qi refinement. There's something strange here." His tone carried a sense of mystery as he contemplated the situation. The aura around the wolves seemed ordinary, but Liu Feng couldn't ignore the feeling that something hidden was happening. Were they just regular wolves, or was there something darker concealed within their presence? He felt that this journey held deep secrets and unknown dangers that awaited him lurking in the shadows of the forest.
"My work is done for now, but I'll take a closer look," Liu Feng whispered. With slow and silent steps, he ventured even deeper into the dense forest, where shadows danced among the trees and a cold, unsettling air enveloped every breath.
Looking back, his eyes scanned the darkness, making sure no curious onlooker dared to follow his steps. Then, in an enigmatic gesture, he recited ancient and forbidden words, unleashing the magic of lycanthropic transformation. A dark aura surrounded him, and his human form was gradually overtaken by the bestiality of a werewolf.
The smell of blood and fear permeated the air, and Liu Feng followed the gruesome trail that drew him deeper into the dark heart of the forest. Strange sounds whispered in the leaves, and the faint sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting distorted shadows on the ground covered in dead leaves.
"Fresh flesh," Liu Feng murmured with a serious, almost inaudible voice. His eyes glowed like burning embers. Following the trail of death, he approached the spot that seemed to be the epicenter of the disturbing scene.
And there, in the pale moonlight, he witnessed a macabre and mysterious sight: various body parts of a child strewn across the ground.
"Interesting..." Liu Feng muttered as he meticulously investigated the scene. His werewolf eyes examined every detail with sharp curiosity. He had seen scenes of violence and carnage before, but something about that specific scene deeply intrigued him.
He crouched beside the mutilated remains, his sharp claws gently touching the marks left by what appeared to be precise cuts. "This wasn't the work of ordinary wolves," he thought aloud, with a tone of mystery. Wolves didn't usually act in such a methodical way.
"Someone with quite precise cutting skills has been here... but why?" His curious mind raced, connecting possible scenarios and suspicions. What could drive a person to do something so horrendous to a victim's body?
As he continued his investigation, Liu Feng became intrigued by the absence of scents beyond those of the wolves and the child. "Strange... Why is there no scent of other humans? Could the killer have been a wolf disguised as a human? Or perhaps they used some artifice to mask their scent?" he pondered.
"Surely they must have masked their scent with some special tool. I have no idea..." Liu Feng thought as he turned and began to make his way back to the village, reverting from his werewolf form. Walking, Liu Feng stopped when he was already quite far from the location of the child's body. Even though his hearing wasn't as sensitive as in his werewolf form, he was at the 3rd level of qi refinement, much better than an average human. He heard footsteps.
Liu Feng halted instantly, stepping without making a sound. The person walking seemed to be careful where they stepped, as if they didn't know where to tread. Liu Feng remained still, waiting, as he realized the footsteps were approaching him. "Someone was following me? How, when I didn't hear anyone?" Liu Feng thought, but he quickly brushed it aside since the person was now very close.
Liu Feng prepared to attack, wondering if he should transform into his werewolf form. As the person was so close, he used his senses to gauge their cultivation level, only to be surprised that they had no cultivation at all. "A regular person here in this forest? I thought all the villagers were afraid to enter the forest because of the wolves," Liu Feng thought, then he attacked. "Ahhhh!" A sharp, frightened, and high-pitched feminine scream rang out. "What are you doing here?" Liu Feng asked, surprised to see someone in the forest.
Her face was unrecognizable, marked by wounds and deep cuts that seemed to have torn not only her skin but also her soul. It was the woman, her eyes widened by the shock caused by the unexpected encounter. Her heart raced unevenly, an echo of the fear that surrounded her.
The words that escaped the trembling lips of the woman carried a mixture of anxiety and hope, a direct plea to the man before her. "Immortal Sir, have you found my son? How is he? Where is he?" Her voice sounded fragile, choked with emotion, as her eyes scanned Liu Feng's figure, eagerly searching for any sign of her precious child.
Liu Feng's features remained impenetrable, his gaze fixed on the woman. He knew how overwhelming the anguish of a desperate mother could be, pushing her to the brink of what they might consider possible. Although Liu Feng was accustomed to the cruelty and deceit that could reside in the shadows, the intensity in her eyes cast a spark of doubt. Was he right to trust the sincerity of her words? Or was this just another skillfully used mask to achieve a purpose?
A silent contemplation took over Liu Feng's mind as he studied the woman. Her expression, marked by pain and apprehension, seemed genuine. Uncertainty lingered, and Liu Feng wondered if it would be appropriate to reveal the dark truth he had found: the mangled body of a child. A child who could be her son or maybe not.
Inside Liu Feng's turbulent thoughts, a battle raged. It was a dilemma between compassion and reality, between the desire to spare a mother from a devastating sight and the search for clear answers. The question echoed in her mind as he weighed the decision. Would it be too cruel to inflict more pain on an already broken soul? Or would it be more painful to conceal the truth?
"Immortal Sir?" The woman's trembling voice interrupted his thoughts, filling the tense silence that had formed. Fear reverberated in her words, questioning Liu Feng's intention. He faced the dilemma that stood before him, a dilemma that transcended the weight of his own life and intertwined with the fate of those involved in this tragic encounter in the forest.
"Follow me," Liu Feng murmured softly, his voice carrying a compassionate seriousness that needed no additional words. He had the sensitivity to perceive the delicacy of the moment, the importance of guiding the woman through the labyrinth of emotions she might encounter. Each step taken was a step deeper into the unpredictable darkness of her distress.
The woman followed him silently, each step guided by uncertainty and a tangible mix of apprehension and hope. As they walked, the sounds of branches breaking under their feet seemed almost reverent, a path to a scene that no heart should witness. Together, they arrived at the place where the horror hid.
Their eyes met what Liu Feng had discovered, and the woman seemed frozen in an instant. Her hands instinctively covered her mouth as a choked sob escaped her lips. There he was, her son, or what remained of him, a sight no mother could bear serenely.
"My baby!" A wail tore through the heavens, the echo of maternal pain that transcended any linguistic expression. Every fragment of her being was there, in that terrifying scene, her heart racing and squeezing against the unbearable weight of reality. She rushed to what had once been a vibrant being, now reduced to a grotesque and cruel sight.
The woman's hands closed around the child's head and the shattered pieces, as if her own strength could somehow reverse time and undo the horror unfolding before her. Sobs turned into sharp cries of agony, echoing through the surrounding trees, as if nature itself responded to the unbearable suffering she was experiencing.
Each cry seemed to tear a piece of her soul, each tear a release from the depths of her sorrow. The air was heavy with the intensity of her pain, as if the very elements shared the burden of her mourning. Respectfully, Liu Feng took a few steps back, giving her space for this moment of devastation. He remained vigilant, aware of the shadows moving around, alert to any sign of danger that might approach.
The woman was hunched over what remained of her son, tears and pain flowing freely. Her hands touched each fragment with tenderness, as if wanting to ensure he could still feel a mother's unconditional love. Every cry that escaped her lips was a lament not just for the loss, but also for the indescribable cruelty of fate.
Liu Feng observed this scene of despair and sorrow, a silent witness to the raw and vulnerable humanity that existed beneath layers of mystery and darkness. He felt a complex mixture of compassion and respect for the pain the woman was enduring. As the wind whispered through the trees and the forest continued its undisturbed existence, Liu Feng stood there, ready to protect and care, even if it meant maintaining a respectful and silent distance.
The fragility of life... This realization echoed in the recesses of Liu Feng's mind, like a melancholic whisper of existence. He understood it intimately, a truth that seeped into his soul. With an audible sigh, he spoke to himself silently, the words resonating internally with determination and self-discovery.
"Life is so fragile... I know that better than anyone." His inner voice echoed, carrying the weight of the experience that had led him to this deep understanding. He looked at his own being, his existence that seemed so transient and vulnerable. "This only tells me to be stronger than I already am," Liu Feng continued, his inner voice resonating with a newfound sense of purpose. "What I am is just a bird inside a cage," he reflected, a metaphor conveying his sense of limitation and confinement. "I have to be more powerful, much more than that," he concluded, a flame of resolution igniting within him.
Confidence flooded his thoughts, a confidence emanating from the core of his determination. Liu Feng firmly believed in his ability to transcend the limitations that had oppressed his existence. He visualized himself, imagining breaking through the barriers that held him captive, rising as an unstoppable force of nature.
Focusing his mind, Liu Feng used his heightened senses to scan the environment around him. He tuned into every movement of the forest, every sound, and every breath. He wanted to make sure there were no imminent threats, no dangers lurking in the shadows.
However, his concentration soon revealed the presence of intruders. "Two individuals... One at the 2nd level of qi refinement, the other at the 3rd level of qi refinement," he quickly assessed, discerning the distinct energies of the approaching individuals. His expression remained unflinching, despite recognizing the forces about to converge.
Liu Feng directed his gaze in the direction from which he sensed the presences, a spark of determination burning in his eyes. "Can I catch them off guard? I think not," he pondered, evaluating the situation with sharp insight. He had the acumen to understand that one of the individuals likely possessed sensory abilities similar to his own and had detected him as well.
Abandoning the idea of a stealthy approach, Liu Feng made the decision to approach. He summoned his skeleton summoning magic, a gesture that brought 14 skeleton soldiers to life. They materialized at a distance from him, ready to act under his command. It was a warning, a demonstration of his capability, and an indication that he was not alone.
Cautiously, within the dense forest vegetation, two young individuals advanced. Their dark gray attire camouflaged them in the shadows of the environment, their silhouettes moving with an odd confidence. Each carried a coffin on their backs, a mysterious burden that aroused curiosity.
"The village is nearby, right? Did that idiot prepare everything?" The younger one at the second level of qi refinement muttered, a mixture of anxiety and frustration coloring his words. He expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, apparently tied to some task he was about to fulfill.
The young man at the third level of qi refinement, his companion, nodded in response. "Yes. It's close. Also, we have company," he affirmed, his expression taking on palpable seriousness. The young man's keen perception had detected the presence of another person nearby, someone whose power aligned with his own.